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Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2017 Posts: 23,883
    Let's put it this way: Cary Grant could have made a far better Bond (with a far more convincing accent) than Brosnan, although the former was American (of British descent). I'm not saying there's anyone out there like Grant right now, but there could be.

    Ultimately it's just a nationality. The trick is acting capacity.
  • gumboltgumbolt Now with in-office photocopier
    Posts: 153
    I think Neeson would have been another Dalton - right man, wrong time - had he been given the role in the 1990s. They needed a classic"comic strip" Bond type to bring the series back to an expectant audience and Brosnan ticked that box. If Neeson was the right age now, he would be a serious contender but back in the 1990s it wouldn't have worked with audiences.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    bondjames wrote: »
    Let's put it this way: Cary Grant could have made a far better Bond (with a far more convincing accent) than Brosnan, although the former was American (of British descent). I'm not saying there's anyone out there like Grant right now, but there could be.

    Ultimately it's just a nationality. The trick is acting capacity.

    Bingo!

  • mcdonbbmcdonbb deep in the Heart of Texas
    Posts: 4,116
    Delete

  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    edited February 2017 Posts: 5,131
    doubleoego wrote: »
    suavejmf wrote: »
    You asked me to quote worthy actors not exam whether it would happen or not. Also Fassbender could be Bond.

    Well it was implied. No one's interested in worthy actors who could have been Bond, we want worthy actors who could become the next Bond and are you really using the Commonwealth as factor to being cast because I know plenty of Indian actors who'd make a fine James Bond.

    The title of the discussion is Could / should'. Ha ha ha ha. An Indian Bond! The actors you speak of can be terrorists in the next film, but not Bond. An Asian Bond isn't commercially viable, laughable though.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    I have to say that Art Malik was pretty suave in TLD (when he dropped the fake accent), but I wouldn't have wanted him as Bond.
  • gumboltgumbolt Now with in-office photocopier
    Posts: 153
    I think that commercial reality means we are almost always looking at a white male in the role but I don't think that means a non-white actor could not deliver a good on-screen job. Box office comes first, which probably explains why Roger Moore stayed on for as long as he did and why Brosnan was preferred to Neeson (apparently).
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    gumbolt wrote: »
    I think that commercial reality means we are almost always looking at a white male in the role but I don't think that means a non-white actor could not deliver a good on-screen job. Box office comes first, which probably explains why Roger Moore stayed on for as long as he did and why Brosnan was preferred to Neeson (apparently).

    How could a non white actor play a white character??? Its pointless and silly.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    bondjames wrote: »
    I have to say that Art Malik was pretty suave in TLD (when he dropped the fake accent), but I wouldn't have wanted him as Bond.

    He's not handsome and he has bad hair....
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2017 Posts: 23,883
    suavejmf wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    I have to say that Art Malik was pretty suave in TLD (when he dropped the fake accent), but I wouldn't have wanted him as Bond.

    He's not handsome and he has bad hair....
    True, but in that small moment when he revealed himself in the tent/quarters he seemed far more polished than Dalton imho.
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    edited February 2017 Posts: 1,756
    Honestly I would take Bale as Bond, I don't even care about his age. He is leagues better than any suggestion I could think of. They should have casted him as Bond after SF. Oh well.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    edited February 2017 Posts: 5,131
    dominicgreene wrote: »
    Honestly I would take Bale as Bond, I don't even care about his age. He is leagues better than any suggestion I could think of. They should have casted him as Bond after SF. Oh well.
    +1. Only if Craig wants to retire mind.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    suavejmf wrote: »
    The title of the discussion is Could / should'. Ha ha ha ha.

    Pertaining to the immediate discussion at the time, the focus was on who could be not who could have been.
    Indian Bond! The actors you speak of can be terrorists in the next film, but not Bond.

    Much like your casting suggestions, how original.
    An Asian Bond isn't commercially viable, laughable though.

    And you know this how? Audiences don't really care about the Bond actor per se, they care about the character of Bond himself. There's no proof or evidence to suggest Bond being a different skin colour will result in being a commercial failure. The only people strongly opposed to this are some die hard fans who just so happen to be in the minority. Again, I'd prefer Bond remain white but simultaneously I don't think it's necessary and especially moreso for the actor not having to be British.
    In any case, good luck to whoever becomes the next Bond actor, he's going to need to make sure he can get plenty of other work seeing as it's looking like these Bond films will come out every 4 to 5 years.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    In a world where Trump rules the free world your fantasy of an Asian Bond will never happen. That's what I know. Personally I wouldn't watch a bastardised version of the character at the cinema. Curiosity would probably ensure I watched it on TV but I wouldn't pay money to watch a none white Bond. The same goes for say Shaft, I wouldnt support a white vertion of the character. Because it's pointless.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    I think an Asian Bond may be more successful than a black Bond, given the huge Asian markets. I can see the pandering in nearly every film I see these days, and Bond is likely to be no different. I'm betting a Chinese or Indian character will make an appearance in B25.

    Watch Inferno for a kaleidoscope of ethnic backgrounds (Irfan Khan, Omar Sy, Sidse Babet Knudsen).
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    That is a point yes. But I don't believe the Brit and American audiences would like it. The Asian markets are very neiche. Bollywood for example....its awful in my opinion, but Asians love it. It's not popular in the UK though.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    suavejmf wrote: »
    In a world where Trump rules the free world your fantasy of an Asian Bond will never happen. That's what I know. Personally I wouldn't watch a bastardised version of the character at the cinema. Curiosity would probably ensure I watched it on TV but I wouldn't pay money to watch a none white Bond. The same goes for say Shaft, I wouldnt support a white vertion of the character. Because it's pointless.

    giphy.gif

    You do what's best for you.
    bondjames wrote: »
    I think an Asian Bond may be more successful than a black Bond, given the huge Asian markets. I can see the pandering in nearly every film I see these days, and Bond is likely to be no different. I'm betting a Chinese or Indian character will make an appearance in B25.

    Watch Inferno for a kaleidoscope of ethnic backgrounds (Irfan Khan, Omar Sy, Sidse Babet Knudsen).

    Bond's already done it and if EoN continue their pursuit of bloated budgets they're really going to be neck-deep in it. The fact is, Hollywood obviously regards the overseas BO as crucial but the domestic BO carries more weight for them and is a larger measurement of success, especially as its the market where the chunk of their net profit comes from. However, capitalising on the second biggest market which is fast closing to be the number 1 market is a sensible business strategy which Hollywood has been long at it for years now. If Domestic markets don't step up it's something that's not likely to change. SP saw a 35% drop in domestic earnings from SF and it had nothing to do with the actor playing him but everything else. Films and franchises get cancelled or are stuck in development hell because they may have done good numbers overseas but domestically they failed to impress.

    suavejmf wrote: »
    That is a point yes. But I don't believe the Brit and American audiences would like it. The Asian markets are very neiche. Bollywood for example....its awful in my opinion, but Asians love it. It's not popular in the UK though.

    Not popular in the UK? More Bollywood films get released in the UK than actual British films and more of the former make it into the top 10 list of films than the latter. You may not like it but in this regard what you don't like or agree with is anecdotal at best.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    edited February 2017 Posts: 5,131
    I've never been to the cinema and seen a Bollywood film on show. I've seen them on TV and they are really crap. Tacky. Maybe their popular in Bradford and Birmingham though.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    suavejmf wrote: »
    I've never been to the cinema and seen a Bollywood film on show. I've seen them on TV and they are really crap. Tacky. Maybe their popular in Bradford and Birmingham though.
    Or Southall.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    doubleoego wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    Let's put it this way: Cary Grant could have made a far better Bond (with a far more convincing accent) than Brosnan, although the former was American (of British descent). I'm not saying there's anyone out there like Grant right now, but there could be.

    Ultimately it's just a nationality. The trick is acting capacity.

    Bingo!

    But Cary Grant IS English. He moved to America in his late 20's. He isn't American in any way, shape or form. He would have made a good Bond.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    suavejmf wrote: »
    doubleoego wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    Let's put it this way: Cary Grant could have made a far better Bond (with a far more convincing accent) than Brosnan, although the former was American (of British descent). I'm not saying there's anyone out there like Grant right now, but there could be.

    Ultimately it's just a nationality. The trick is acting capacity.

    Bingo!

    But Cary Grant IS English. He moved to America in his late 20's. He isn't American in any way, shape or form. He would have made a good Bond.

    I can't argue with that.
  • fanbond123fanbond123
    edited February 2017 Posts: 1,661
    Cary Grant was offered Bond but turned it down due to his age. He would have been 58 in Dr. No. Grant retired from acting in 1966 so he wouldn't have made more than a few Bond films even if he had accepted the role. Can't imagine Grant wanting to do all that underwater filming in Thunderball!

    I think Grant made the right decision.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    fanbond123 wrote: »
    Cary Grant was offered Bond but turned it down due to his age. He would have been 58 in Dr. No. Grant retired from acting in 1966 so he wouldn't have made more than a few Bond films even if he had accepted the role. Can't imagine Grant wanting to do all that underwater filming in Thunderball!

    I think Grant made the right decision.
    Very true. The discussion was more around whether an 'American' should play Bond. Grant was an American citizen (of British origin). I was using it to hypothetically show that citizenship shouldn't really come into it, at least imho. People move around all the time these days and take citizenship for many reasons. Ultimately, the best man for the job should be cast.

    PS: Grant was outstanding at 59 in Charade (1963). The rooftop fight with George Kennedy is great.
  • fanbond123fanbond123
    edited February 2017 Posts: 1,661
    Regarding height..
    Yeah, the height could be an issue but the amount of muscle is manageable.

    Along the same lines, the other night I was watching Casino Royale and something really stood out to me that I had somewhat previously noticed. During the "Bodyworks" sequence, when Dimitrios pulls the knife on Bond, I am struck by how small Craig looks in this shot, not only in relation to Dimitrios but to most everyone in the shot.

    Yes, I noticed that. It's also quite noticeable in the tube station in SF as he's chasing Silva. They hide it well generally.

    Craig looks a wee bit short in the Venice scenes too! I don't think height would be an issue for Barbara Broccoli. If she found the right guy - acting-wise or overall 'Bond vibe'-wise, I don't think his height, if a bit shorter than ideal - would be a deal-breaker. I'm sure the media would run with it:


    Shortest Bond ever!

    but I can't imagine EON losing any sleep over such publicity.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited February 2017 Posts: 23,883
    fanbond123 wrote: »
    Craig looks a wee bit short in the Venice scenes too! I don't think height would be an issue for Barbara Broccoli. If she found the right guy - acting-wise or overall Bond vibe -wise, I don't think his height, if a bit shorter than ideal - would be a deal-breaker.
    Babs doesn't seem to mind, true. I do though, and that's why talk of Hardy is not on for me.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    Did someone say an Asian Bond ? ...how about this :
    MV5BNjkwNjM0MGEtNTRlOS00YTk4LTg0YjQtNDJjNjlmNWJhOTgwL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjA2ODg1MTg@._V1_UY317_CR31,0,214,317_AL_.jpg

    small_T8o8jnNuDTao3VHPXcRpg1b2Ut5eyG8iRm9ywgJ3-HU.jpg

    latest?cb=20150906201507

    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsgRDA44IsDLJqAijszeVSl-Xf_pMKw3VDPezPFsMJe6PK2nOZxA

    pasha-bocarie-credit-karina-lidia.jpg
  • SuperintendentSuperintendent A separate pool. For sharks, no less.
    Posts: 871
    suavejmf wrote: »

    Yes it does matter. A none Brit can never truely master an English accent.

    Are you specifically talking about English accent, or some form of British accent? Because Connery didn't have an English accent, and I think he sounded better than any other Bond actor. I believe most people would agree with me.

  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    Superintendent wrote: »
    suavejmf wrote: »

    Yes it does matter. A none Brit can never truely master an English accent.

    Are you specifically talking about English accent, or some form of British accent? Because Connery didn't have an English accent, and I think he sounded better than any other Bond actor. I believe most people would agree with me.

    British. But Connery didn't put on an accent he used his subtle scottish accent.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    edited February 2017 Posts: 5,131
    barryt007 wrote: »
    Did someone say an Asian Bond ? ...how about this :
    MV5BNjkwNjM0MGEtNTRlOS00YTk4LTg0YjQtNDJjNjlmNWJhOTgwL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjA2ODg1MTg@._V1_UY317_CR31,0,214,317_AL_.jpg

    small_T8o8jnNuDTao3VHPXcRpg1b2Ut5eyG8iRm9ywgJ3-HU.jpg

    latest?cb=20150906201507

    images?

    ???? Nothing like a Bond??
    Laughable.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,359
    Alex Dimitrios? ;)
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